title: Effect of stabilization splint on occlusal force distribution during voluntary submaximal tooth clenching: a preliminary sleep simulation study.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to clarify the effect of a stabilization splint (SS) on the distribution of occlusal force around the dental arch during voluntary submaximal tooth clenching. Ten healthy volunteers participated in this study. For each subject, the maxillary SS was made of heat-cured hard acrylic resin with approximately one mm thickness at the molar regions. The subjects were asked to perform static clenching at either 40% or 80% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) levels, with and without the SS in place, using visual feedback. The occlusal contact area and occlusal force were analyzed. When the SS was inserted, the mean tooth contact area and occlusal force significantly decreased at both 40% and 80% MVC levels (p < 0.01). The location of the occlusal balancing point changed towards the anterior after insertion of the SS. The results suggest that the SS has potential to reduce individual tooth-loading forces by evenly distributing the forces generated during sleep bruxism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Showa University, School of Dentistry 2-1-1 Kitasenzoku, Ohta-ku, Tokyo 145-8515 Japan. t-suganuma@dent.showa-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suganuma
authors.forename: Haruka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baba
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D000328:Adult; D001732:Bite Force; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000502:physiology; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D020186:Sleep Bruxism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014070:Tooth / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003764:Dental Materials